AIRPORTS, PASSENGERS TO FEEL IMPACT OF CUTS

U.S. official warns of longer security lines

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has cautioned airline passengers to get to the airport extra early because federal spending cuts have led to long lines at some security checkpoints, and said the coming furloughs will make the situation worse.

Napolitano said mandatory spending cuts ordered on Friday by President Barack Obama have led to the elimination of overtime for Transportation Security Administration officers and customs agents. She said furlough notices would begin going out to employees on Monday, and Customs and Border Protection said it would send them out later this week.

Hiring freezes for both agencies will also prevent filling open positions.

“We are already seeing the effects at some of the ports of entry — at the big airports, for example. Some of them had very long lines this weekend,” Napolitano said at a “Politico Playbook” event on Monday.

She pointed to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as examples of those with long lines. Napolitano said delays were between 150 percent and 200 percent at certain airports. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement on Monday the agency had begun reducing overtime over the weekend and effects were visible.

Some lawmakers have accused Napolitano and other administration officials of fear-mongering and exaggerating the impact that would be seen from the deep spending reductions.